No plans for Moeed to meet Indian NSA at SCO moot

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: There are no plans for National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf to meet his Indian counterpart during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe, the adviser’s office has confirmed.

Yusuf left for Dushanbe on Sunday to participate in the 16th meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Council of SCO member states being held on June 22-23.

During the visit, Yusuf will participate in the joint session of the National Security Advisers of the member states and also sign the Protocol of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Security Council Secretaries, an official in the National Security Division told APP.

The National Security Adviser’s office has confirmed that Dr Yusuf will not meet his Indian counterpart, who will also be attending the SCO summit. Last year, the meeting was held virtually in which India had walked out on Yusuf’s refusal to remove Pakistan’s political map from his background.

During the visit, Yusuf may also meet with his counterparts from Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has on several occasions reiterated that there will be no dialogue with India until it revisits its illegal and unilateral action of August 5.

There is speculation that the Afghan National Security Adviser, Hamdullah Mohib, will also be in Dushanbe as Afghanistan is an observer of the SCO, the official said.

“Mohib has recently made multiple baseless accusations against Pakistan. Pakistan has responded formally, accusing him of undermining progress towards peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan has reportedly stopped engaging with him,” he said.

It is therefore not surprising that no meeting is expected between the Pakistani and Afghan advisers in Dushanbe either, the official added.

The upcoming SCO meeting is especially important as Prime Minister Khan is expected to visit Dushanbe for the SCO Heads of State Council meeting later this year. Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon already visited Pakistan on June 2-3 and met with President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Khan.

It may be mentioned here that established on June 15, 2001, this year is also the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO. China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, the republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan are the founding members of the organization. Pakistan joined SCO in 2017.